For some women, the typical temperature spike may not be present. Instead, they may observe a slow or irregularly-patterned rise in temperature. Whether or not your graph follows the typical pattern, it is helpful to draw a “coverline” to determine your most fertile day. The coverline should separate pre-ovulatory from post-ovulatory temperatures.
To draw the coverline, first examine your chart and find the first temperature present that is at least two-tenths of a degree higher than it was the preceding six days.
Now, looking only at these preceding six days, identify the day with the highest temperature.
Add one-tenth of a degree to this temperature.
Draw a horizontal line across your graph at the level of the temperature you calculated. This is the coverline. The first temperature that rises above the coverline, using this prediction method, should represent the day you ovulated.
Method #3: Examining Your Cervix
Your cervix is the entrance to your uterus, located at the upper end of your vagina. Obviously, you cannot examine it with your eyes. Instead, you must do so using your tactile senses (with the tip of your finger). For this reason many women shy away from this method. If your desire to get pregnant overpowers any squeamishness you may have, you can gain good information from this procedure. But, unlike the other methods, it may take more than one cycle to master. To check your cervix, you should follow these guidelines:
Since you will be using the middle finger of your dominant hand, make sure that this fingernail is trimmed and not sharp. Wash your hands with soap and water. Begin checking your cervix daily after your menstrual cycle has ended. Try to check it at the same time each day.
The best position for checking your cervix is squatting, but you can also put one leg up (or use whatever position you might use to insert a tampon). Check your cervix in the same position each day.
Insert the middle finger of your dominant hand into the back of your vagina, slowly and gently while remembering to breathe and relax. You should soon feel your cervix.
When you are not fertile, your cervix will feel hard, like the tip of your nose. It will be in a low position, closed, and free of fertile quality mucus. (However, if you have ever vaginally delivered a child, your cervix may always be slightly open. It is important to monitor how it changes as the month progresses.)
As the fertile phase approaches, your cervix begins to feel soft, like your lips. It rises to a higher position and opens, in preparation for the entrance of sperm. Checking your cervix may allow you to find fertile quality cervical mucus, even if you have never observed it before externally. Again, it is important to compare how your cervix feels at this time relative to earlier in the month. After a couple of cycles, you should begin to be able to judge your level of fertility based on the“ripeness” of your cervix.
As a side note, if you notice small bumps on your cervix, do not worry. These are nabothian cysts, and they are perfectly normal.